I didn't run the Shamrock Marathon in 2021, but I applaud them for their efforts to adapt Shamrock…read moreWeekend to the strange times we're living in while keeping the runners safe. The 2018 Shamrock Marathon was my very first and to this date, my only marathon. It was the year they changed the course so the Marathoners were mixed in with the half marathoners and I was so thankful. It was amazing feeling the energy of the crowd at the start. It was so empowering choosing to turn right to go for 26.2 instead of left to the 13.1 finish. That race was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but also one of the best. The whole Shamrock experience is amazing from start to finish. The expo brings in top talent in the running world as speakers. The swag you get at the finish and the quality of the after party hasn't been matched by any other race I've attended.

Finally, have checked this local marathon off my list. (And my first FULL marathon! Yay)…read more I'm a huge fan of J&A and feel so lucky that we have such a vibrant and fun race community right here in my home town. I've completed the 8k and half marathon for Shamrock weekends in the past and, like others have noted, this one is a flat and easy course with a wonderful expo and packet pickup. This year, they didn't personalize the bibs so you all had to stand in a single really long line on Friday afternoon that snaked all the way around the convention center to pick up a bib and write your own name on it. Number was assigned when you checked in and they scanned it. Lines moved OK but I prefer the personal bib method with the numbers you line up with.... Expo was a bit lacking in variety this year but they had a wonderful selection of Shamrock-themed goodies and I spent way more than intended! The race was fabulous, the pacers were excellent, and the results and photos and after party and medals all made me a happy gal. I've run a ton of races and no one does it like J&A. Top notch all the way.

So I typically dont do 5K races I usually do walks (Susan Coleman against Breast Cancer etc...)…read moreHowever my friends thought it would be something cool to do and it being hosted at night seemed like a fun idea. So we decided to purchase a Groupon which was significantly lower than the regular price to attend. Im happy we decided to get the Groupon. My first sign that something was off was when I started looking at the parking options and realized everything they suggested was pretty far. Which didn't seem like a good idea seeing as though we were about to run. We decided to park in a neighborhood not too far away so that we wouldn't have to walk very far. The race was to start at 8:30 we arrived around 8:15.Second sign I should have went home. There were hundreds of people outside the gate to enter the race. It was no less than 90 degrees and the crowd wasn't moving. We didn't get inside until almost 9pm. That was after security checked our bags and made sure no one bought in any water. They were turning people away that had camo bags with water in them. Finally, we get it in and it takes another 20 minutes for our group to get moving. We are still in this crowd. Fast forward and the race gets moving and it's not separated properly so that people running had a clear path away from people that were walking. So you literally had to bob and weave through people to get by if you were actually running. I didn't see all this music along the course as promised. There were a few stations set up for selfies and whatnot but they were crowded. The worst part of it was the fact that there was not enough water along the course. They had 1 station set up and then another at the very end. How could you take water from people and then not give them any? And the water that they were giving was hot as if it had been sitting out all day in the 90-degree sun. As we neared the end of the race it started to rain. Security was demanding we leave out of Harbor Park. Then as we were walking out security on the other side was making people come in to get out of the Thunder. What a mess. They were selling $7 draft beer at the end no complimentary cup, discount or anything for completing the race. This was a huge waste of my time a well as money. Due to the lightning, they canceled the after party festivities which was the biggest reason for the race. There was supposed to be a DJ or concert or something. there was a good chance of rain and people had been asking on their facebook page all day would they be rescheduling for inclement weather and they chose not to. This almost feels like a scam and people should stay away

Great idea. Fun idea. Something super for friends to do. But wait. This event was a major disaster…read more Throwing a bunch of people into one area and letting them walk/run off in waves with no method behind it surely made this experience awful. I know it's just a 5k but they should have had people begin in waves based on their estimated walk/run time. Putting both walkers and runners together made for the biggest cluster f*ck imaginable. Sure, no one cared for the race time but getting stuck behind a group of walkers actually makes it dangerous. A kid on a wagon with his dad pulling it face planted 200 steps into the run. Poor kid. Hope the kid was okay. The dancing/music stations looked pretty cool. One person described it as people high on molly having a good time. I would run this again if there seems to be some organization to it.

I didn't run the Shamrock 8k in 2021, but I applaud them for their efforts to adapt Shamrock…read moreWeekend to the strange times we're living in while keeping the runners safe. The 2016 Shamrock 8K was my very first race and it will always have a special place in my heart because of that. The race is around the Oceanfront area so the crowd support is awesome! You even have people cheering for you off their balconies in the hotels. Since it's such a large event that means no matter if you're walking it or truly racing it you're going to have a good time. You have some people who go for PRs, but I'd say most dress up and have fun with it. If you're looking for an extra challenge you can sign up for the Dolphin or Whale Challenges which has you run the 8K on Saturday and then either the half or the full on Sunday. The swag you get at the finish and the quality of the after party hasn't been matched by any other race I've attended. Everything is five-star from start to finish.

2018 Yelpie 100 Challenge One of the most fun runs to do…read morewhether you live here or are just visiting!! Lots of music, fun, entertainment, and most importantly, FOOD!!! Crowd support is unbelievable! The police and organizers are wonderful with security and coordination, so such a smooth-running event!!! The medals are great! The Irish stew nourishing!! And, of course, for all you beer drinkers, lots of Yuengling at the finish!!! But make sure you have your ID or wrist band with your beer tickets (on your bib), otherwise, none for you!! The post-race party inside the tent is amazing! Great band playing great music !!! Great way to start your day and end your race!!!‍ but why should the adults have all the fun...bring the kids for the Final Mile!!! Then you can all get your day off to a great start!

I will say that J&A Racing has it going on, and the org definitely knows how to organize a great…read morerace weekend. From registering for the Shamrock Half, to the expo, the race itself, and the post-race after party, I thought everything was amazing. The Expo (Va Beach Convention Ctr): I picked up my bib on the 1st day, so it was somewhat crowded; however, things moved pretty smoothly. While I did not stick around to enjoy the festivities, there were plenty of vendors and things to do with the family to get the full expo experience. Like most expos, there were plenty of things to buy, but I did not get a sense that I was going to be harrassed to buy anything. Race day: This is a great race because the course is pretty flat. While most of it is a bit in and out for the half marathon, there are plenty of fun sights to see while running. The fluids stations were fully stocked, and there were not any major bottle necks at the start line and during the course. If I could make one change to the course, I wanted to spend more time running on the boardwalk. Other than that small complaint, everything was great. Post-race celebration: Here is where the real party was located. I was 100% pleasantly surprised that J&A Racing hosted the post-race party INSIDE of a huge pavilion tent because the temps were in the mid to high 30s. Swag: You definitely will get a lot of cool stuff with your registration fee. Pre- and post-race swag included a long-sleeve tech shirt, beach towel, cap, four beer tickets, a cup of a Irish stew (technically, soup), bag, and a bunch of snacks. *I feel like I'm missing something.* A couple of tips: -Be very careful with parking. Some of the tow truck companies were very predatory and towing cars left and right. -Arrive early to find well-priced parking. A few places were charging $35+ for day parking. This was disgusting because I'm sure they jacked up their prices because it was marathon weekend, which occurs during the off season. Fortunately for me, the parking garage at 25th St charged only $10 for 24 hr parking.

I didn't run the Shamrock Half Marathon in 2021, but I applaud them for their efforts to adapt…read moreShamrock Weekend to the strange times we're living in while keeping the runners safe. I've done all of the Shamrock Races, but the half is always my favorite. Well except in 2017. If you know you know... that race was BRUTAL! It's a flat and fast course. The scenery changes every few miles which is so great mentally and I've pushed myself to multiple PRs year after year. The crowd always comes out in force to cheer you on too. Everything is so well organized from packet pick up at the amazing Shamrock Weekend expo - full of vendors and world-class speakers to the finish line. I hope you're ready for a party- the Shamrock Weekend races have one of the best after parties in the business. It's a true celebration. I look forward to returning to Virginia Beach to run this one again and again!

Great for competitive and casual racers. I've been 6 times, each time I've gone, I've been…read moresatisfied. The people at the desk are informative and quick, races are fairly prices, karts are fast, and the track is amazing. For causal racers- it's a blast. The speed of the karts are manageable, the track isn't to tricky, and the equipment onsite is great. They have multiple helmets onsite in all sizes. For competitive racers- its an amazing experience. As a competitive racer myself, the karts are able to zip around the track smoothly. It's easy to over/understeer when pushing, but that comes with racing.

My family and I recently visited LeMans Karting, and unfortunately, it was one of the most…read morefrustrating customer service experiences we've had. When we arrived, we were initially told the wait time would be around 50 minutes. Shortly afterward, an employee informed us it would actually be closer to 30 minutes because the system had "moved some things around." We waited patiently, watching multiple races go by. After some time, I asked the pit master when our race would begin and was told we were up next. When we checked again later, we discovered that we had never been added to the queue at all. Despite this being entirely their mistake, we were told we would have to wait even longer before being able to race. At that point, we decided we no longer wanted to participate and requested a refund. The staff refused to refund our money and instead offered free races at a later time. We declined because, after the experience we had already endured, we simply wanted our money back. To make matters worse, the facility was extremely hot because the air conditioning appeared to be either broken or ineffective, and the restroom had a strong odor of urine and feces. Overall, the lack of organization, poor customer service, refusal to issue a refund after their mistake, and uncomfortable facility conditions made this a very disappointing experience. My family and I will not be returning, and I would encourage others to consider alternative karting venues.